BOUSD elementary students, grades 3rd-6th, you can apply to be featured as kid characters in Brea’s 1st children’s book showcasing the city’s iconic Charlie’s Clock aka Charlie the Clock in time travel with friends - - celebrating Brea's centennial year in 2017.

I have received parental consent for Valeria Zavala, a former student of Laurel Elementary, who made history as the first Brea student, awarded California National History Day Champion in 2015. Five more students are needed: one from Arovista, Country Hills, William E. Fanning, Mariposa and Olinda elementary.

Orange County Register News: Our Town Brea, December 26, 2016.

Overseeing the project based on my concept, the author of the book is Teresa Hampson, known for her history book, Brea: Celebrating 75 years, and 2006 BOHS grad and recent CSUF grad, Heather Ashlyn Collins, who drew Charlie the Clock caricature, is the book's Illustrator.

I’m looking for kids who excel at academics and are interested in Brea history!

The deadline has been set for Friday, January 6, 2017.

If you are interested, I'll need your child's name, name of school, grade level, and academic interests.

No doubt, it's going to be a very hard decision. Parents will be notified either way. More to come on Charlie the Clock group photo book op and sub-project opportunities for BOUSD kids, grades 3rd - 6th.

Please send your information via private message on Brea Old and New Facebook/Instagram or news@breaoldandnew.com. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

What did the unwound clock say to its owner?
A: It’s about time!

Today, I met with Mr. Salesky, the creator and sole instructor of BOHS GITA (Global IT Academy), and three of his students, Anjali Patel, Zoya Kahn and Kyle Tam, who are working on building a Charlie the Clock website -- showcasing the city of Brea's first children's book, celebrating its centennial year in 2017.

Charlie the Clock and friends children's history book is coming along nicely -- and soon I will be sharing excerpts of the text and illustrations for everyone to see! Plus, I will be announcing two more magical sub-projects that involve many community people! Stay with us to hear the wonderful story unfold!

Back in 2011, the Birch Hills Golf Course was is major renovations and swathed in green fencing cloth with signs that stated, “Thank you for your patience.”

Some of us wondered if it would ever be completed, but in May the 18-hole executive course finally reopened, and it is a real beauty. Driving or walking by one always sees many golfers on the lush course with rolling hills and water features.

While the golf course is first class and popular, it lacked a new clubhouse to replace the old, dinky one that was previously there.

But that has finally changed.

The view inside the new clubhouse at Birch Hills Golf Course.

Imperial Golf, operators of the golf course, now have a clubhouse that includes the TreeHouse Restaurant, opened in October, a causal, family-friendly indoor-outdoor dining spot. And it is not just popular with golfers, said Imperial principal, Matt Clabaugh,

“We get about 50-50 golfers and other folks,” he said, adding that the lunch and after-work crowd continues to grow, especially with people from the nearby office buildings on Birch Street and other locals. The daily happy hour and dinner menu might be attracting some of the after-work crowd. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day until 10 pm.

But I think it would be difficult to just stop in for a quick bite at noon and go back to work because TreeHouse has huge, east and west facing glass walls that fully open to phenomenal views.

Clabaugh said the view at sunset is unbelievable. I’m afraid I’d just want to pull up a chair, maybe by one of the three outdoor fire pits, and just sit back and enjoy the view, which includes Segment 5 of the Tracks at Brea trail that is completed, but yet to open.

According to Bill Bowlus, Brea’s public works director, there are just a few items to wrap up, including some type of pass through for bikers and hikers, and then the trail will open. Hooray.

The trail meanders through the golf course and includes an interpretive rest stop with a replica of an old Red Car, like the ones that used to be in Brea. Of course, the rest stop is at the clubhouse and restaurant.

The restaurant, which Clabaugh described as efficient, casual and contemporary, can accommodate banquets for up to 75 people.

“We’ve already had some golf tournament banquets and sports groups award ceremonies in our restaurant,” he said. It could be a good spot for Brea Chamber of Commerce lunches and mixers too.

Something I didn’t expect to find at a golf clubhouse-restaurant is weekly live music. Clabaugh said they also plan some star walks and moon walks, once the trail opens. And you thought Birch Hills was just for golf!

But the official grand opening will not be until January or February, Clabaugh said. Perhaps they will coordinate it with Brea’s big Centennial Celebration Feb. 17, which begins with a community parade starting from Birch Hills Golf Course to the Sports Park to celebrate Brea’s 100th birthday.

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. Contact her at daxoncomm@earthlink.net.

At the stroke of midnight the blast off begins!

After months of planning Brea’s milestone anniversary-- we are countdown to our 100-day centennial birthday celebration on February 23, 2017!!

A special City Council meeting is scheduled on Brea’s anniversary with festivities including recognition of 100+ residents and sister cities. Plus a special Happy Birthday cake for all to enjoy outdoors at the Civic & Cultural Center plaza level. Donating a cake for the festivities is Frost My Cake. Owner Ann Tran, said they’re very excited to take part in the celebration commemorating the once-in-a-lifetime event.

Prior to the milestone anniversary party will be our yearlong centennial kick-off celebration-- starting with a parade and picnic during the day, and the Silent Poster Exhibition, later in the evening on Saturday, February 18.

Centennial Gala - Saturday, October 21, 2017

Tales from the Canyon: The Olinda Story to be held at the Curtis Theatre in November 2017.

Also, a milestone keepsake treasure is in the planning stages. Brea’sfirstchildren’s book and exciting sub-projects, which is an independently produced community project featuring Brea’s iconic historic "Charlie the Clock" and grade school friends, along with newsy reporters, in a whimsy time travel – celebrating 100 years in Brea!

Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase about 1 hour before each show. The little ones have done an AMAZING job rehearsing for weeks.

Courtesy of Cindy Fuller and Crystal O’Barr

Tom Fuller

Actor Patrick Wayne, at lecturn, was master of ceremonies in 1971 for a ceremony at Brea Olinda High School recognizing Vietnam War pilot Steve Hanson, who was missing in action. James Cameron, a Brea resident at the time, painted a POW in a cage for the event. Courtesy of Susan Gaede

Did you wear a POW-MIA bracelet in the ’70s?

BREA

I continue my honoring of Brea’s centennial with another look back in the history files.
How many people remember wearing a POW-MIA bracelet with the name of Steve Hanson engraved on it? In April 1971, the city adopted Capt. Stephen Hanson, a Marine pilot who had been missing in action in the Southeast Asia for nearly four years.

Steve was thought to be a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He had been shot down while piloting a helicopter on a rescue mission over Laos on June 1, 1967.

Many local people wore Steve Hanson POW bracelets. John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Cher and many other celebrities also wore his bracelet.

The high school held a dedication for Steve and all the television channels covered the event.

Patrick Wayne was the keynote speaker.

Future movie director James Cameron, a Brea resident at the time, painted a picture of a POW in a bamboo cage to display on the podium during the ceremony.

Later, the high school conducted a swim-a-thon raising thousands of dollars for a college fund for Steve’s son, Todd. Many Brea residents and seven high schools participated in a walk-a-thon to Knott’s Berry Farm (10.3 miles) organized by Brea Olinda High School students to raise money for a national mailing campaign to North Vietnamese officials.

Steve’s wife, Carole Hanson, was grand marshal of the Brea Bonanza Day Parade. The theme was “Let’s Not Forget America.”

Steve was later declared killed in action and the bracelets were gathered from all over the United States, melted down by Brea Olinda students and made into wings, which were placed on a commemorative plaque and hung in the high school office.

Carole later married a former POW, Jim Hickerson, and they adopted a Korean girl. I am sure many of you remember Todd, who accompanied Carole at all Brea events. He was then 5 years old. He has a family of his own now. Jim and Carole are living in Hawaii and are very happy.

Carole is writing a book and Brea will very much be included in it.

Susan Gaede has cast her eye on local news for more than 40 years: 714-529-8561 or suzgaede@aol.com.

October 30, 2016

Beautiful Brea Old & New (BBON) is proud to award a certificate of excellence in the area of journalism and academics to Brea Olinda High School (BOHS) senior students and BBON team members, Choha Kim and Anabel King for their contribution in the area of journalism and academics on BBON. For the past two years, both Kim and King have contributed noteworthy community online news articles of interest focusing primarily on BOHS. We applaud Kim and King for a job well done and look forward to their stories and engaging posts on social media in the weeks and months ahead as we countdown to our centennial celebration.

“I don’t know where the original historic badge is. I haven’t seen it myself,” said Brea’s historian Officer Celmer. The image of the nostalgic badge has been used in various departmental printing such as their annual report (shown in the bottom photo.)

Everyone in town is getting geared up for our centennial year in 2017 including Brea Police Officers, who be sporting a full size constable shield badge. In the place of CAL will be the City of Brea seal. 1917 will be on the left side and 2017 on the right, marking 100 years, along with a rank and ID number on the bottom.

The Brea PD's centennial badge will surely be a special one as its style will be similar to the Deputy Constable Brea Township Badge back in the day.

I’m bursting with excitement as I write this update about Brea’s timely project, the city’s 1st children’s book featuring historic icon Charlie’s Clock aka "Charlie the Clock" in time travel – celebrating 100 years in Brea!

Not only will this whimsy book serve as a learning tool in getting children interested in history, but also it will inspire the young at heart!

Team "Charlie the Clock" is an independent project consisting of three book team members, community collaboration for book sub-projects, along with a whole lot of support from educators, and people in the the City of Brea and beyond! Thank you all!

There will be community book characters such as many BOUSD grade school children! How cute is that!

Giddy up! Born in the Old West, let's take a trot down Brea Pd's memory lane!

Founded in 1956 with eight members, the City of Brea had a police posse comprised of academy volunteers. The members were deputized if necessary, 21 years or older, possessed a horse and a trailer, and were either residents of Brea or neighboring cities.

These men were dedicated to serve undergoing a rigid screening process by the governing board, after receiving approval from the police department.

They possessed the utmost horsemanship and marksmanship skills, purchasing their own uniforms and gear to get the job done. The members were skilled in first aid and required to respond 24/7 if needed.

Separately charted and self-governed, the group worked closely with the Brea PD in coordinating functions such as search and rescue and assisting with traffic problems. They partook in monthly meetings and three shoots a year. Among other activities, they participated in the City of Brea 4th of July parades. And held social ride get-togethers once a month.

But it wasn't always pleasant as these posse riders were ready for alarming situations such as in 1968, when Officer Nelson Sasscer, a Santa Ana police officer was killed while stopping a motorist. Posse members were summoned to assist in searching the canyons for the suspect’s car, which went out of control when the driver abruptly exited while being chased by Brea Police Officer, Jim Smith.

According to Brea PD Officer Jason Celmer, police historian, the Posse ceased being an active element at the PD in the late 70’s/early 80’s.

Celmer is reaching out and asking anyone who has any items related to the history of Brea PD in their possession, and would like to donate them, to please contact him via email at JasonC@ci.brea.ca.us. Celmer notes: of particular interest related to this article would be the Badge, and the Brea PD horse blanket that is just barely visible beneath Shannon’s saddle in the close up photo.